Outlook: Bacon has one returning upperclassman, and two on the team all together. Three of the top six do return, and Burke will have a large selection from which to choose to fill out the remainder of the rotation. Depending upon how the newcomers pan out will determine where Bacon ends up this season.

Outlook: It’s a promising year for the Vikings. According to Bagos, it’s “the deepest we’ve been in five years.” The majority of East Lyme’s returners have seen significant varsity experience and will look to make a run in the Large Division. Shields returns in his senior campaign as the No. 1 and team captain.

Outlook: The defending ECC Large Champions will aim their sights at another title, returning Kamireddy and Bohara, both All-Bulletin selections last season. Wallace and Lee return to the 3-4 spots, while the Bilda brothers, Perras and Sullivan will rotate on the fifth spot that will be so important in a tough division. The Wildcats return to their familiar digs this season, switching from the Norwich Golf Course back to the Mohegan Sun Country Club at Pautipaug after a two-year absence. The Wildcat Invitational will return as well to Pautipaug after a reconstruction that made the course more difficult.

Outlook: The Centaurs are quite young this year, probably the most in Garceau’s career at the Academy. Still, Garceau believes what they lack in experience, they seem to make up in enthusiasm. The losses of Greg Pike, Ryan Willis, Paul Butkevich and Adam Becher will be difficult, but the work ethic and athleticism of this year’s group should keep Woodstock in the divisional hunt.

Outlook: The Redmen return a plethora of experience, including the Liebschers and Desjardin, all of whom have played varsity since freshman year. Killingly also has the Aitkens, who have experience at the local, state and national level. “Their addition will give us the depth that is needed to be competitive,” Marcoux said.

Outlook: With 13 returners battling for the top spots, Van Frachen is confident that the Colonels have the experience to be competitive in each of their matches. “I think that as long as we continue to improve and play smart, we will challenge for the ECC Medium Division crown,” he said.

Outlook: The Lancers only have three players with varsity experience, but Little hopes to be as competitive as possible considering the match inexperience. Waterford also will have to weather the loss of All-Bulletin selection Nick Hedden, who graduated.

Windham

Coach/Year: Roger DeGray/11th.

Top returnees: Sr. Mitchell Stevens; Sr. Kyle Marsalisi.

Top newcomer: Jr. Dan Gryk.

Outlook: The defending ECC Open and Medium champions, the Whippets have graduated All-State golfers Michael McMorrow and Nathan Prague-Doyle and have fallen back into a rebuilding phase. “This year’s team is a mix of very experienced players (Stevens and Marsalisi) and very raw, inexperienced golfers,” DeGray said. “The 3, 4, and 5 players must show a lot of improvement for the Whips to qualify for a 4th straight CIAC state tournament.”

ECC Small

Griswold

Coach/Year: Paul Richards/32nd.

Top returnees: Sr. Andrew Berardi; Jr. Aaron Colter.

Top newcomers: Jr. Peter Maurice.

Outlook: The Wolverines lost four of the five starters from last year’s team that finished fifth in the ECC Open and qualified for the state tournament. Berardi and Colter are the only players with varsity experience, and Richards said he will look for improvement over each match as the season progresses.

Outlook: The Indians return four varsity players, and Reed will be the “solid No. 1,” according to Kelly. After the top four, the competition for the other spots will be wide open. Kelly believes the team should be competitive within the division, although qualifying for states may be a year away.

Outlook: Julian was one of the top players in the Small Division last season, and the other returnees also saw varsity action. However, the Saints will have to overcome the loss of graduated players Blake Biancamano, Vencenzo Denniston and Nick Souza. Harger said each player needs to improve in each match for them to compete in the division.

Outlook: Tourtellotte shared the ECC Small title with Griswold last season, and like the Wolverines, have graduated three of its top five. However, the Tigers still have its top two golfers back in Jezierski and Roy and are keeping to high hopes. Last season, Jezierski averaged a 39 as a sophomore. Santerre also has seen some time in the fifth slot. Ouillette believes the key to the season will be the fight for the two remaining spots, and if those golfers can stay consistent.

Outlook: The Lions are young, with only one junior, six sophomores and three freshmen making up the team. Still, four of the five starters from last season’s team return, and Weber looks to build on the experience from last season to improve overall team scores.

Outlook: All of the Eagles’ key players returned from last season, much to Paradis’ and Allen’s delight. The coaches feel Grasso Tech is on the cusp of its best season in a decade. An expanded schedule also will help the Eagles’ chances.

Outlook: The Pirates are looking to improve on their record from last year, and Caron feels they can compete with any team in the division. Harrington was co-champion of the league and will be the key at the top spot. The Nos. 2 through 5 spots still are up for grabs.

Outlook: Salvas returns as one of the top players in the area, while Perron was the No. 1 for Ellis Tech last season. Thus, Bartolomei shouldn’t have many worries at the top of the lineup. The rest of the positions are up for grabs.

Outlook: The Mighty Tigers have three players returning from last season, but the bulk of the team will be made up of freshmen with limited playing experience. Bisson expects to finish this season in the top half of the CSC East Division.

Outlook: The Golden Knights lost all seven starters from last year’s SENE regular season champions — six to graduation, one to the track team. Therefore, the burden will fall on captain Borowski, an All-State soccer player last fall. Karapanos and Kunkel may have some opportunities to contribute. A lack of practice time because of weather is not helping matters, either.

Outlook: Rice is counting on depth and leadership to carry the Griffins beyond last year’s win total. Hart, Segar and Lohan bring experience, while Kremer and Hollingsworth played often and improved over last summer. Rieder, from Germany, and Cook have hit the ball well to start the season. Positions haven’t been determined yet in the lineup.

St. Thomas More

Coach/Year: Paul Gonzalez/1st.

Top returnees: Paul Daniels; Wenhan Zhang; Sonosuke Hashimoto.

Top newcomers: Iker Pallach; Haohan Lin; Ning Ma; Joe Rubenacker.

Outlook: Daniels, the former Norwich Tech player, returns for his second season and looks to lead the Chancellors. Gonzalez said the team looks to improve working on scoring and finishing more matches collectively as a team. Pallach, an eighth grader, also will contribute.

Outlook: The Eastern Connecticut Conference tournament champions lost four of their top five starters from a year ago. Strickland will play at No. 1, but the other roles still are uncertain. Rothstein is optimistic that NFA will be competitive because many of his newcomers have experience playing the sport. He also is excited about the future of golf in the ECC with the addition of East Lyme. After spending two seasons at River Ridge Golf Course in Jewett City, the Wildcats return to a re-designed Mohegan Sun Country Club at Pautipaug.

Outlook: Weigand is optimistic for the upcoming season, aiming the Centaurs’ sights at a state tournament berth. Carito and Morrone have four years of experience, and Semmelrock has played throughout her high school career. With Becher and the addition of newcomer Grace Yang, Weigand is hopeful at the girls’ potential.

Note: The New London and Ellis Tech boys programs, along with the Bacon Academy, East Lyme and Waterford girls programs, did not submit preview sheets. Williams School is not fielding a team this season.